Connexions improves joint working

Improved joint working is considered to be one of the main
achievements of Connexions Partnerships, according to a report
launched last week.

A survey of phase two and three Connexions Partnerships found
that 49 per cent of stakeholders thought that better joint working
was one of the main things achieved.

The proportion of the young people interviewed who thought that
good progress had been made was even higher, with 85 per cent
saying this was the case.

However, the stakeholders, which included representatives from
social services, probation and local education authorities, were
less clear about the impact of Connexions on their own
organisation. Just 54 per cent said that there had been a fair
amount of impact, with 43 per cent saying the impact was
negligible.

The main benefits of Connexions were found to be improved
information and access to advice and support, as well as the
introduction of personal advisers.

Problems identified included a lack of staff, insufficient time
spent with individuals, and confusion over what different services
do. Young people highlighted the lack of awareness of Connexions,
difficulty getting to the offices, and a lack of trust in the
service.